The new face of Indian Aerospace: Tata Boeing JV

The newly inaugurated Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited facility represents the future of India as a global exporter of aerospace products

On the 1st of March, Boeing took another major step in its journey of partnership with Indian industry and formally inaugurated the Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) facility. The inauguration was carried out in the presence of Boeing Defense, Space & Security CEO Leanne Caret, state officials from Telangana, the U.S. ambassador to India, and leadership from Boeing India and Tata Advanced Systems Limited.

Spread over 14,000 square meters, the state-of-the-art facility has been producing aero-structures for Boeing’s AH-64 Apache helicopter, including fuselages, secondary structures and vertical spar boxes for international customers. TBAL marks a major step towards co-development of integrated systems in aerospace and defence in India and helps to fulfil the goals of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Since the foundation of the facility was laid in 2016, work has progressed at a sustained pace to ensure the facility became operational on schedule. TBAL is the result of Boeing’s first equity joint venture in India that will also contribute to the creation of a skilled workforce and aerospace and defence related jobs – a global supply chain model - envisaged by Make in India.

Boeing has delivered more than 2,300 Apache helicopters to customers around the world since the aircraft entered into production. The United States Army Apache fleet alone has accumulated more than 4.3 million flight hours, including more than 1.2 million in combat, as of January 2018. The Apache has been fielded or selected for acquisition by armed forces of 16 global countries, including India.

Boeing is expanding its engagement with India’s Ministry of Defence in order to deliver advanced capabilities and readiness to India’s military customers and is developing a competitive supplier base in country that is integrated into Boeing’s global supply chain. This significance is underscored by the fact that future Apache fuselages for existing and new customers will be produced at the TBAL facility. The Indian Ministry of Defence finalized an order with Boeing for 22 AH-64E Apache helicopters in September 2015 and deliveries will begin in mid-2019.